The Cecil Whig., 1887-12-31

ana give the Union men OF the oOuin |
time to gather force and strength and |
to argue with the people OF the South,
South Carolina will stand alone, and !
her return to the Union will then be
a question only of hours The Pres
ident's reply was given with pathetic
emotion. "Whatever it might be
possible to avert or prevent by any
other course - said Mr. Lincoln, 81
have sworn to defend the flag Of the
Nation and to prc~ervc the honor OF
the ration. 1t has been assailed by
rebellion. The flag has been fired
upon. and it is my duty to defend it.
There is no middle course now
Another story of President Lincoln
which comes from Samuel Fessen-
den, OF Connecticut gives new tcsti
mony OF his kindness of heart. Mr..
Fessenden was in Washington as
boy with his uncle, the late Senator
William Pitt tessenden, OF Maine,
who was one OF the giants Of his day
in the United States Senate The
Senator took the lad with HIM to the
White House one lay VIII n he had
occasion To call on the President. A
great many things were discussed
between the statesmen which were
beyond the lad knowledge and
comprchenslon lhe one thing that
ne does remember however, was the
PRESIDENTS appeal to tie Senator to
know what he would DO III case
where boy soldier mad been sen
fenced to he shot tor sobeyln8 Or
ders. Sad Mr.. Lincoln to the Sen
at"r: 1T is seldom that | am placed
IN such an embarrassing position as
that IN which You ind me tins morn
ln2. Here is poor widow whose
only boy Is an enlisted soldier VIII"
is Negligent OF his duty and court
martial has adjudsed that he is guilty
OF a military crime, of which the
penalty IS death. The judgment has
been pronounced upon hlm ana tlle
i.oof woman Is mere asking 1oT MS
"a. don. Inc boy aCtloh IoSt ho'h
ny |" u.s. D"' '''e ''''i'' oiiiCeiS Say
Il INC ePll9Ne y Siai'teu II VIII &c
Suoy al ulS'll'llhe anu make II lln-
possible to secure oDe1ience hon.
the men. Now, what would you d"
IN Such a caHef Senator feSsenden
repied 'llat MS acton would De
guided 10y his heart, and that 1t
would be 1aVoraD e t. the widow.
Wilefeupon MI. Lincoln sad with
'''''' ''''N' '''' = 0 ~,
'e "''i''9''ii'ii' u SEC MS 5 e"t '" di
Secretary angry: swell, that Is
lust THAT have done, but expect
l,.,'...,,..,.. ..,r.,., ,.t."., -, H.
" . ~ =, ''' -
~ ~ - - w = u ''''>'
V ''''
"a Hi"ih' "ilIcer VINO had peen aD-
sent rom IS command beyond the
pei 10" "l liiH iui iIotiSA was dipl'i diiF
suspended without oeln% permitted
10 MAKE any explanation. All al
'e"'P'' |" secure lelliS' d'el'leht
thiou2n II lpe ol'I'lidfg ci'aiilleis i'iied.
lhaily ne went 10 the PRESIDENT.
Nlr. Lincoln ilStene" carelully 10 MS
al"ieiheHt' loot 'he papers ana asked
hlm 10 CaII ahoiher day. w heh the
man came pdck 'le lfeSldeht handed
MN MS papers indorsed as follows:
"Grant this request. The Presi-
dent IS ever too busy to listen to the
con pidllit "i d Soluiei'
- ~ 'i->'
There was an ep sode in the his
tory of Senator Fessenden and Sec
rctary Stanton which & yes consider
able insight INTO the character of
both men. At the time of the i'm
pcachment Of President Andrew
Johnson, Senator Fessenden pursued
course which was distastetul to
Secretary Stanton. They met con-
stantlv during the trial, and up to
the time OF its conclusion, and then
without a word of warning Mr..
Stanton cut Mr.. Fessenden as they
passed each other in the street and